Skip to main content

Reply to "Queer Artist versus The Artist who is Queer"

"Bigotry" - a strong word. For such loaded statements you wield them so simply and absolutely.

Apartheid in South Africa - that was bigotry.

The fates of Matthew Shepard, Brandon Teena and countless others - that was bigotry.

With social politics of power firmly in heterosexual favor I'm not sure I'd call a disinterest in straight artists as bigotry.

Currently cultural theory supports notions that deconstruct the polarization of sexualities into straight and gay. Deconstruction of this nature demonstrates that between each pole are a plethora of people, identities, and arts that are often overlooked when we produce two boxes with one we must tick. I think to confer a disinterest in your work results from being "straight" only enforces an essentialist system that ghettoizes minorities and sustains the mainstream as white, male, straight and Christian. On some level we are all queered by the world and if we accept this we will all be more equal - no boxes to tick and no need to stand on opposite sides when we are all standing in the same room.

As for this "straight" man living a "gay life" - everyday I shed a tear for the thousands of queer people around the world living straight lives not only to succeed artistically and professionally but also because their very lives may depend on it. Last year in Belgrade machine guns opened fire upon the pride parade and you call disinterest in "straight" art (whatever that is) as bigotry.
×
×
×
×